The Diary of a Freelancer: Networking

Socialites. Sycophants. The art of ass-sucking. Planet of the Apes; "Bow your head!". Frankly its not all that bad. 1 out of 20 people you meet at these film shindigs end up being comrades in this the art race. Clever penny.

So stick out, go to the numerous festivals, screenings and film fundraisers. Mingle with the social fiends who look on you poorly until they hear you are a story artist/ animator:

"What's that?"

"It's art used in film production. It looks like a comic strip, but it breaks down the scenes to be filmed into panels"

"Really, that must be fun"

And to think I didn't exist in there sphere of being 10 seconds ago.

Tools of the trade: business cards. You are a lone ninja. Your business cards are your stars, kunai knives. Impale as many as you can. Don't expect calls back from everyone. Remember dirtbags and pseudo gatekeepers and pseudo-creatives? They are like moths to light when it comes to these networking events. Anywhere where there is booze really.

Remember to smile alot. Be sociable. Smile. And yes, liquor does help. That's a plus. Down side..liquor loosens the tongue. Know your limit people. Had a conversation with a chick at a screening once and she was under the bronze influence and she said she thanked God for colonisation because if it werent for Britain she would be in her home country 'bare foot and pregnant'.... Yah. Good stuff.

But after partaking the cheap liquor, stale finger food, insidious film premises, be blessed if you have found one dude or dudette who is serious about building bridges. Connections as such are great stuff. Those that are viable, you got to work hard to make it work. Better yet, just do work diligently like you always do.

 And thanks to the modern wonders of technology, we can network in different ways. This blog for instance. Facebook (where friends become strangers) and Twitter (where strangers become friends). Just hit a friend up and tell him what's good. Self-promotion. That's what I've been doing these past months. And when you make a connection you never know when its going to benefit you, but it will. If it doesnt, it's not a connection, its a leeching.

Sum up,
There should be as much time, if not more, spent Building Bridges as you spend Burning Bridges.